Method and apparatus for distributing liquid solutions



Sept. l 7, 1940. o. A. PARKER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING LIQUID SOLUTIONS Filed May 17, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 iiiilli INVENTOR.

ORREL A. PARKER BY ATTORNEY.

Sept. 17, 1940. Q PARKER 2,215,132

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING LIQUID SOLUTIONS Filed May 17, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 5 an? a I [L] 3 F-P L F f, 9 E 2 w :6 t Z 3O 6O 15 5O 45 6O 75 90 WATER PRESSURE IN POUNDS WATER PRESSURE lN POUNDS INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 17, 1940 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIS- TRIBUTING LIQUID SOLUTIONS Orrel A. Parker, Warrensville, Ohio Application May 17, 1938, Serial No. 208,423

-Claims.

In applying liquid fertilizers, such as sulphatev of ammonia to lawns, it is necessary that the concentration of the fertilizer be maintained within definite limits since too strong a solution will burn or injure the grass or plants and an unduly weak solution will have little beneficial fertilizing efi'ect. Prior methods of applying ll fertilizer, with which I am familiar, consisted in applying a concentrated solution with a sprin kling can', applying the dry chemical by hand, and mixing the chemical with dry soil or sand applying the mixed chemical and soil either by hand or a spreader. All of these methods require immediate thorough watering after application, thereby not only involving a laborious process, but frequently resulting in injurydue to uneven applica tion and insufficient washing down.

I am also familiar with a method of applying liquid fertilizers by a nozzle arrangement wherein the fertilizer is drawn from a pail or the like through a tube to the nozzle. However, this necessitates carrying the pail during operation since it must always be adjacent the nozzle.

I have devised a water jet pump adapted to be used with the conventional garden hose and operable at the pressures normally available for domestic use whereby the fertilizer may be applied 85 and washed down in one relatively fast operation and at the same time, the amount of fertilizer in a given volume of water may be closely controlled.

The pump is adapted to be inserted at the sill cock or faucet which eliminates the necessity of carrying a pail. The pump may also be inserted at any desired point in a hose line or conduit but preferably not more than fifty feet from the nozzle end of the hose.

It is a primary object of my invention there fore, to provide a pump device adapted to be employed with a conventional garden hose for applying liquid fertilizers, insecticides and fungicides, and the like, with precision.

Another object of my invention is to provide a water jet pump which has a high degree of suction and which has substantially the same suction despite a wide variation in water pressure, above to device adapted to beassociated with a conven-' This invention relates to methods and appa-v tional garden hose for applying liquid fertilizer, or other chemicals and wherein the amount of chemical discharged with a given volume of water is maintained within desirable limits despite substantial variation in water pressure.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple and efiicient method of applying liquid fertilizers and the like, with precision.

Another object of my invention is" to provide a 'pump device. for applying fungicide chemicals 10 and the like which is impervious to the action of mercuric and mercurour chloride.

, Another object of my invention is to provide a pump device for applying treating chemicals to a lawn or the like which is disposed at a point in a 15 hose line remote from the nozzle to eliminate moving the chemical container as the nozzle portion of the hose is moved.

Other objects of my invention and the inven: tion itself will become increasingly apparent from 20 a consideration of the following description and drawings wherein: 1 7

1g. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal medial sectional view of 25' with.

Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating the efiiciency of the pump under Varying water pressure; and

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating the amount of material discharged in a given amount of water 40 under varying water pressure.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly Fig. 1, I have indicated at H], a conventional sill cock or faucet from which water may be drawn under pressure, the water pressure generally vary- 45 ingfrom 30 pounds per square inch, to 90 pounds. The faucet is provided with the usual threaded tubular portion for securing a hose thereto, but in the present instance, a pump device generally indicated at H is threadedly and sealingly se- 50.

cured to the faucet and also to a hose [2 which is provided with the usual nozzle. Extending laterally from the pump device II is a tube l4 over which is telescoped one end of a relatively small rubber tube I5, the lower end of the tube being 1 vice may be secured to the faucet l0.

projected into a pail [6 containing a solution of chemical material for treating lawns, plants, or the like.

Although, I hereinafter describe the apparatus in connection with the treatment of lawns, it is understood that its use is not limitedthereto and it is susceptible of various other uses such as treating shrubbery, disinfecting poultry houses, and for similar purposes.

The pump device l I is of the water jet type and is best illustrated in Fig. 2 wherein a generally tubular body I8 is provided with a cylindrical portion l9 internally threaded whereby the de- The opposite end of the device is provided with an externally threaded shoulder 20 adapted to engage a conventional connector on hose I2. A portion of reduced diameter, indicated at 2i, extends from shoulder 20 to a shoulder 22 and a tapered portion 23. A thin walled orifice 24 opens into a cylindrical bore 25, which merges with a tapered bore 26.

The wall of the tapered portion 23 is formed with a bore 28 joining a reduced diameter bore 29 by a preferably tapered shoulder 30. The bore 28 is adapted to have one end of a tube I4 press fitted thereinto to form a sealing engagement between the tube and portion 23. The projecting end of tube 14 will be telescoped within the upper end of tube I5 to be sealed therewith. It will be noted that tube I4 is disposed at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the device since this permits tube l5 to bend at a lesser angle and provides a more direct flow of liquid from pail [B to the pump device. Also, this permits bore 29 to open into the cylindrical bore 25 closely adjacent orifice 24. However, I find that the angle at which tube I4 is disposed has no determinable effect on the functioning of the pump device and in Fig. 3, I have showna tube 32 press fitted into a bore 33 to extend substantially at a right angle from the axis of the device.

In this modification, a reduced bore 34 connecting bore 33 with cylindrical bore 25 is disposed eccentrically of the axis of tube 32. I preferably provide a tapered shoulder as indicated at 32. I preferably provide a tapered shoulder as indicated at 35, since this may be easily provided by employing a boring tool having a conical tip and due to the fact that a tapered shoulder offers little impedance to the flow of liquid.

Ammonium sulphate is commonly employed in fertilizing lawns due to its rich nitrogen content, one hundred pounds being equivalent in nitrogen content to four thousand pounds of good stable manure. It has been found that one ounce of ammonium sulphate to a gallon of water discharged provides an ideal ratio or that approximately two pounds of ammonium sulphate should be applied in fertilizing five hundred square feet of lawn. Thus, in order to applyan ounce of ammonium sulphate with every gallon of water from a solution such as 2 gallons of water containing 2 pounds of ammonium sulphate, it is necessary to draw a gallon of the solution with every fifteen gallons forced through the hose from the'faucet or with every 16 gallons discharged. Two gallons is a convenient amount for the ordinary 10 or 12 quart pail and at the con centration indicated a considerable area can be fertilized without requiring re-filling of the pail.

I have found by experiment that the suction of the ordinary water jet pump is relativelwlow and that they would draw approximately 8 to 10 inches of mercury, whereas, by providing a thin walled orifice entering into a bore or throat having a definite relation in size to the orifice together with a tube opening related to the size of the -orifice, I could draw in excess of 29 inches of mer- .cury at sea level and at pressures above 20 pounds per suare inch. Water jet pumps are ordinarily employed merely for discharging liquids from one point to another and the primaryconcern is volume, whereas in applying a chemical solution to a lawn or the like, the primary concern is the ratio of the chemical material in a given amount of discharged water. Water jet pumps can be designed to draw varying amounts of liquid relative to the amount discharged but are not satisfactory for the use described since a slight change in the ratio between line pressure and back pressure in the hose line due to variation in hose or line pressure, nozzle restriction and the like will cause a considerable decrease in the drawing capacity of the pump because of the low'suction capacity. Inasmuch as the water pressure in various localities may vary from 30 pounds to 90 pounds-or more and may vary during use of the hose in applying fertilizer and the like, it is necessary to provide a high suction value so that the amount of solution drawn in a given interval'will be substantially constant to keep the concentration within desired limits.

I have found that a pump device having an orifice of of an inch in diameter, having a wall thickness approximately & of an inch emptying into abore or throat having a diameter of or an inch and tapered or progressively increased in diameter and extending substantially 1% inches together with a suction tube having .052 internal diameter will draw substantially 29 inches of mercury at pressures above 20 pounds, with the back pressure of feet of hose and a substantially open nozzle. sults were also achieved if the thin walled orifice were replaced by a cylindrical bore of the same diameter and of a length eight to nine times the diameter as indicated at 43, Fig. 5.

Figs. '7 and 8 illustrate in graphic form the results of tests which were made with the pump device described and employing 50 feet of hose, which is the usual length for domestic use. As illustrated in Fig. '7, the suction is practically constant at water pressures greater than 20 pounds (with the back pressure of 50 feet of hose and an open nozzle) and the ratio at the nozzle is varied only by the amount of water passing through the jet. The variance in ratio at the nozzle, is illus'-' trated in Fig. 8, wherein it will be noted that the ratio of liquid drawn by suction to the amount discharged at the nozzle is approximately 1 to 12 at 30 pounds water pressure, and at 80 pounds pressure, it is approximately 1 to 18, and in the middle range of pressure it is-about 1 to 16. Fig. 8 illustrates that within practical pressure limits the ratio of solution drawn in the volume of water discharged is within a range wherein suf-- ficient fertilizer will be applied, but not in excess which might injure the grass by burning or the like.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, I have shown a modified form of pump device formed of a plastic material impervious to the action of mercuric and mercurous chlorides and similar fungicides commonly employed by green-keepers for I also found that these re;,.

golf courses and the like. as a. remedy for brown patch, dollar patch and de-worming.

The pump device comprises a generally tubular body 40 having a generally centrally disposed external flange 4| from which extends a tube portion 42, the body being internally bored to provide a cylindrical portion 43 opening into an enlarged cylindrical bore 44, and the bore 44 merging with a progressivelyenlarged or tapered 1 bore 45. This construction is similar to the construction described in connection with Figs. 2 and 3, but the thin walled orifice is replaced by the tubular bore 43 of substantial extent. However, the dimensions are otherwise substantially 15 the same 'as described in connection with Figs.

2 and 3, and I find-that the same results are achieved as to suction under varying water pressures.

The body 40 has the opposite end portions ser- 20 rated or of saw-tooth form to have relatively short hose portions indicated at 46 and 41, of Fig. 6, telescoped thereover and secured to the pump device in the usual manner by clamping rings 48. The opposite end portions of the hose 25 portions engage threaded connector units 49 and adapted to couple with parts of a hose or connect a faucet and a hose in a manner similar to the device of Figs. 2 and 3, and as illustrated .in Fig. 1. Tube l5 will be sealingly telescoped over tube 42 with the lower end of the tube l5 being projected into a pail containing fungicide or the like, as illustrated in Fig. 1. I preferably provide a strainer in each instance at the end of the tube 15, as indicated at 50, to prevent foreign material from entering the relatively small diameter suction tube l5.

Although, I have shown and described pre ferred forms of my invention, I contemplate that numerous and extensive departures may be made scopeof the appended claims.

WhatI claim is:

l. A water jet pump adapted to be interposed between a length of garden hose having a termi- 45 nal sprinkling nozzle and a source of watersupply at any pressure within a range between twenty pounds per square inch and one hundred pounds per square inch, said pump adapted by suction effect to supply to the water from said 50 source a previously prepared chemical solution from acontainer disposed adjacent said pump, said solution being supplied to the hose by said pump at a substantially constant rate of volume of solution per unit of time independently of 55 variations in water pressure at said source, said 60 with screw threaded means operable to make connection with the inlet end of a length of garden hose, and a jet orifice disposed longitudinally medially of the body, a discharge portion of the bore of said body on the discharge side 5 of the orifice being tapered with the larger end of said tapered bore portion disposed towards the discharge end of the body, said orifice effecting restricted communication of fluid between the inlet portion of the longitudinal bore of said body and said discharge portion thereof, said body being provided with a relatively small bore extending transversely through a transverse wall of the body with its inner and terminating in an orifice of the inner wall of the bore of said. 75 body which is disposed substantially imme- P 8 tubularbody having a l ngi udin diateiy at the beginning of said discharge bore of the body, said tapered bore portion having all y opposite side inner wall surfaces extending angularly outwardly relative to each other.

2. A water jet pump adapted to be interposed between a length of garden hose having a terminal sprinkling nozzle and a source of water supply at any pressure within a range between twenty pounds per square inch and one hundred pounds per square inch, said pump adapted by suction effect to supply to the water from said source a previously prepared chemical solution from a'container'disposed adjacent said pump, saidsolution being supplied to the hose by said pump at a substantially constant rate of volume of solution per unit of time independently of variations in water pressure at said source, said pump comprising a tubular body provided at its inlet end with screw threaded means adapted for attachment to a water faucet of an ordinary water supply system andat its discharge end with screw threaded means operable to make connection with the inlet end of a length of garden hose, and a jet orifice disposed longitudinally medially of the body, a discharge portion of the bore of said body on the discharge side of the orifice which is at least one-half inch I in length being tapered with the larger end of e said tapered bore portion disposed towards the discharge end of the body, said orifice effecting restricted communication of fiuid, between the inlet portion of the longitudinal bore of said body and said discharge portion thereof, said body being provided with a relatively small bore extending transversely through a transverse wall of the body with its inner end terminating in an orifice of the inner wall of the bore of said body which is disposed immediately at. the beginning of said discharge bore portion at the discharge side of said jet orifice, said jet orifice being substantially 9 inch in diameter, and the minimum diameter of the portion of the body bore immediately adjacent to the discharge side of said orifice being approximately inch in diameter, and succeeding portions of said discharge bore portion being of no less diameter than of an inch, and means associated with said body adjacent the outer sur-v face of its lateral wall for efiecting communication of said chemical solution from an exterior container to said body through said transverse bore of the body.

3. The water jet pump substantially as set forth in claim 1, characterized by said tapered bore portion having opposite longitudinal sides defining an included angle of approximately 5 /2 degrees. 1

4. The water jet pump substantially as set forth in claim 1, characterized by the body bore being abruptly increased from the jet orifice diameter of approximately of an inch to an expanded diameter of approximately of an inch at the discharge side, of said jet orifice.

5. A water 'jet pump of the type described combore extending throughout its length, and a jet orifice disposed longitudinally medially of the body, a discharge portion of the bore of said body on the discharge side of the orifice being tapered with the larger end of said tapered bore portion disposed towards the discharge end of the body, said orifice efiecting restricted communication of fluid between the inlet portion of the longitudinal bore of said body and said discharge portion thereof, said body being pro-v vided with a relatively small bore extending transversely through a transverse wall of the body with its inner end terminating in an orifice of the inner wall of the bore of said body which is disposed substantially at the discharge side of said jet orifice and communicating with said body bore in a longitudinally disposed portion of its length which is positioned in the line of flow from said orifice prior to the beginning of any tapered portion of said bore, said jet orifice being approximately inch in diameter, and the minimum diameter of all portions of the body bore on the discharge side of said orifice being greater than the diameter of the orifice, and fluid conducting means associated with said body adjacent the outer surface of its lateral wall for effecting communication of a fluid from an exterior source, to said body through said transverse bore of the body, said tapered bore portion having all opposite side inner wall surfaces extending angularly outwardly relative to each other along lines diverging at an angle, said tapered discharge portion of the bore being not less than one-half inch in length.

ORREL A. PARKER. 

